Animal-scratching device



April 27 1926.

E. PFLAUM ANIMAL SCRATCHING DEVICE Filed Feb. 28 1925 Patented Apr. 27, 1926.y

UNI/Ten srATfEs EMIL PFLAUM, Eon OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

ANIMAL-SCRATCHING DEVVCEI.`

Application filedFebruai-y 28, V1925. Serial No. 12,5104.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it knownV that EMIL PFLAUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in

the county ot Douglas and State of llebras-` ha, has invented certainnew and useful lmprovements in Animal-Scratching Devices, of which :the following is a specilication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relatesto back scratching devices for animals, and has for its object to ,provide a'device ot' this character' under which hogs and other animals may pass for scratching their backs, and to provide a device of this character which will accommodate itself to various heights fot animals.

A further object is to provide a back scratching device for animals comprising spaced vertically disposed supports, to the inner 4sides of which are secured to the vertically disposed arms of a U-shaped frame 'formed from channel iron and in `which' arms are slidably mounted the ends otV an arcuate brush carrying member, under which animals may pass.` Also to provide a guide bar connected to theyupper side ot the brush carrying member and slidably mounted in the channel arms of the frame and alU-shaped spring connected to the bar and having its Aends slidably mounted in the transverse portion of the channeledU-shaped member for normally exerting a downward pressure on the guide bar and the brush carrying member. Thespringt'orm `means for allowing the device to accommodate itself to rdifferent heights of animals passing through the saine.

A further object is to Vprovide the ends ot' the brush carrying member with extensionsslidably mounted in the channeled arms and through which extensions and vertically disposed slots in the arms and supports bolts extend for slidably connecting said ends ot the brush holder to the support. Also to provide blocks in the ends of the channeled brush holder for preventing displacement ot the brushes and through which blocks said bolts extend.

A furtherl object is to .provide U-shaped spring clamps adapted to aro-h the channeled brush Vholder and yprovided with flanges adapted to engage in grooves in the opposite sides of the brushes for holding said brushes within the brush holding member and allowing the same to be easily removed.

lith the 'above and other objects in view the invention resides in 'the combination and arrangement of parts `as hereinafter `set forth, shown in the drawing, described iand claimed, it being understood that changes y'in the precise embodiment of the invention may be madewithin the scope'ot Vwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit ot the invention.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of the animal scratching device.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the device.

uFigure 3 is a perspective view lof rone ot the brush clamping'spring members.

Figure l yis a perspective view off one ot the brushes.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I parallel relation, and which posts are con` nected together by the inverted Ll-shaped frame 2, which isformed :from channel iron and hasl its channeled arms 3 downwardly disposed and secured to the inner sides ot the supports 2,'preferablyiby screws l. Disposed within the trame 2 between the arms 3 thereof yis an inverted semicircular shaped channeled member 5, in which is disposed a plurality of brushes 6, and under which brushes an animal passes during a bach scratching operation. By forming the brush carrying member 5 from channel iron, it is obvious the sides thereof will prevent lateral displacement of 'the brushes G, however to prevent downward ldisplacement ot the brushes '6, U-shaped spring members 7 are provided, which'membersf' arch the. upper side of ythe brush carrying member 5 and are provided withinwardly extending-lianges 8 which extend into grooves 9 in opposite sides of the brushes, therefore it will be seen that the brushes are positively held but in a manner for cleaning or replacement pur` poses.

rllhe lower ends 'ot the channeled brush carrying member 5 are provided with e2'- tensious l0 which are slidably mounted inr the channeled arms 3 oi" the U-shaped iii-ame 2, and extending through vsaid extensions 10 and the registering' vertically disposed slots ll of thearms 3 and slots l2 of theposts l are bolts 13, which bo'lts are slidab'ly mounted in said slots 11 and 12 and guide the brush carrying member during its upward and downward movement, The bolts 13 also extend through blocks 14 in the ends of OG no the channeled brush carrying member, and which blocks prevent downward movement ot the brushes. Connected b y means of a rivet 15 to the upper side of the brush carrying member 5 is a horizontally disposed guide bar 16, the ends oit which are slidably mounted in the arms 3 ot the channeled trame. therefore it will be seen that when an animal applies pressure on the brushes to either side of the. device, the brush holding member will be positively braced and held against side tilting which would bind the same. Also secured to the brush carrying member i is a U-shaped spring member 1T. the arms ot 'which' entend upwardly and outwardly and terminate in curvxd portions 1S disposed in the horii/,ontal portion 1i) et the channeled trame 2, and which curved portions are guided in said channeled portion 19 ot the 'trame during the upward and downward movement ot the brush carrying frame as an animal passes under the same, therefore it will be seen that the device will accommodate itself to animals ot various kinds and heights, and that the spring 17 will normally maintain the brush carrying frame in lowered position,

From the above it, will be sccn that an animal scratching device is provided which may be placed in a barn yard or hog pen, will accommodate itsel'tf to various kind and heights ot animals, and one wherein pressure will be exerted on the scratching element as an animal passes thereunder. It will also be seen that the scratching or brushing elements may be easily and quickly removed and replaced for cleaning or replacement purposes.

Mounted on the transverse portion 19 or the U-shaped frame 2 is an oil tank 20, the discharge pipe 21 of which extends downwardly through the bar 19, the spring 1? and the guide bar 1G, and is provided with a valve 22, which valve is carried by a' vcrtically disposed valve rod 3, the lower end ot which is provided with an enlarge-ment 2li disposed beneath the brushes in a position whereby when an animal passes under the brushes the valve 22 will be unseated and oil will be-discharged through the pipes 21 onto the back of the animal and onto the brushes, therefore it will be seen that an oling device is provided in connection with the device.

rlhe invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is 1. An animal scratching device comprising spaced supports, an inverted U-shapcd trame disposed between said supports and having its arms downwardly disposed, said frame being 'ormed from channels, an invertcd arched brush carrying member within said trame, the ends oit said brush carrying member being slidably mounted in thc arms ot the U-shaped iframe, a bar connected to the upper side of the brush carrying member and having its ends slidably mounted in the arms oit the U-shaped trame and spring means interposed between said bar and the upper side ot the U-shaped frame and forming means Yfor normally forcing said brush carrying member downwardly.

2. An animal scratching device comprising spaced supports, an inverted U-shaped trame toi-med `troni channel iron and having its arms secured to the supports, an arched brush holder disposed within said tramey the ends ol said brush holder being provided with members slidably mounted in the arms of the U-shaped frame, blocks disposed in the ends ol the brush holder, bolts extending through` said blocks, the ends ot the brush holder and vertical slots o'le the 'lrame arms and supports, a horizontally disposed bar carried by the upper e ot the brush holder and having its ends slidably mounted in the arms ot the U- shaped trame, a U-shaped spring connected to the bar substantially centrally thereof, said U-shaped spring having its arms er: tending upwardly and divcrging, said spring arms terminating in sliding engagement within the horizontal portion ol' the inverted U-shaped frame.

'.lhc combination with a yieldably supported arcuate animal scratching device Ytermed from channeled iron and guided in its upward and downward movement. ot a plurality ot' brushes disposed in said device, U-shaped spring members arching the upper side of the device, inwardly extending flanges carried by said U-shaped spring members and disposed in channels in opposite sides of the brushes and removable blocks in the ends of the brush carrying member.

4. The combination with a yieldably supported arcuate scratching device vertically guidable in an inverted `U-shaped frame, of a tank supported by said trame, a discharge pipe carried by said tank and extending through an aperture in the arcuate scratching device, a valve carried by said discharge pipel a valve stem extending through said discharge pipe and carried by said valve andan animal engaging member carried by the valve stem and disposed beneath the. arcuate scratching device.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

si d

EML PFLAUM. 

